1997 Skillful Angler Awards Winners

The Skillful Angler Awards Program honors the many anglers who catch both freshwater and marine fish which aren't of record size but are impressive and worthy of recognition. At the end of each year, special recognition is given to the anglers who caught the largest fish in each of the freshwater and marine species categories.

In 1997 there were 90 applications submitted for fish of 23 different species. The 1997 Skillful Angler Awards Winners are as follows:

Freshwater Species:

Largemouth Bass - 6 lb, 12 oz caught by 37-year-old Dominick Bizzari of Randolph on July 24. Dominick was fishing from a boat on Lake Hopatcong when he reeled this one in at 4 p.m. Fourteen pound test was used with an All Star rod and a Shimano reel. A rubber worm served as the lure. The fish measured 22 3/4 inches in length with a 17 inch girth.

Striped Bass Hybrid - 9 lb, 6 oz caught by 53-year-old Russ Van Duzer of Dover on May 24. Russ was fishing from his boat on Lake Hopatcong when he landed this one (time not specified). Six pound test was used with a Wright & MaGill spinning rod and a Shimano reel. He used live herring for bait. The fish measured 25 inches in length with a 20 inch girth. Russ is a senior member of the Knee Deep Hunting and Fishing Club of Lake Hopatcong and was participating in their annual contest when he landed the fish.

Channel Catfish - 15 lb, 4 ounces caught by 56-year-old Bobby Hall of Bridgeton on
August 11. Bobby was fishing from his boat on the Cohansey River when he got the fish at 10:30 a.m. Fourteen pound test was used with a spinning rod and reel. Crab served for bait. The fish measured 32 1/2 inches in length with a 19 1/2 inch girth.

*White Crappie - 2 lb, 10 oz caught by 7-year-old Bobby Barnard of Salem on April 20. Bobby was fishing from the shore at Riverview Beach Park in Pennsville when he landed the fish at 5 p.m. Six pound test was used with a Shimano rod and reel. The lure was a minnow. The fish measured 17 inches in length with a 15 inch girth. Bobby also holds the state record for white crappie which is 2 ounces larger than the previous record taken from Woodstown Lake in 1984!

*Muskellunge - 42 lb, 13 oz caught by 43-year-old Robert Neals of Hopatcong on January 26. Bob was ice fishing at Monksville Reservoir when he landed this one at 10 a.m. He used a tip-up with a live shiner for bait. The fish measured 48 inches in length with a 26 1/4 inch girth. We're told he pulled this monster through a hole only 7 inches in diameter! Robert also holds the state record for muskellunge which is 4 pounds, 9 ounces larger than the previous record taken from the Delaware Water Gap in 1990!

Chain Pickerel - 6 lb, 10 oz caught by 50-year-old Walter Sedor of Trenton on September 13. Walt was fishing from his boat in Round Valley Reservoir when he landed this one at 7:30 a.m. Eight pound test was used with a Browning rod, Shimano reel and live herring. The fish measured 27 inches in length with a 14 inch girth.

Northern Pike - 17 lb, 10 oz caught by 40-year-old Forrest Black of Dunellen on March 30. Forrest was fishing from a boat in Spruce Run Reservoir when he hooked into the fish at 4:05 p.m. Six pound test was used with a Shakespeare rod and a spinning reel. A fathead minnow served for bait. The fish was 39 1/2 inches in length with a 21 1/2 inch girth.

Brook Trout - 6 lb caught by 17-year-old Randy Menken of Lakewood on April 21. Randy was fishing from the shore of Lake Shenandoah in Lakewood when he landed the fish at 2 p.m. Six pound test was used with a spinning rod and a Daiwa reel. A 2 inch power grub was the lure. The fish measured 23 3/4 inches in length with a 14 1/4 inch girth.

Brown Trout - 8 lb, 5 oz caught by 37-year-old David Dickinson of Edison on April 23. Dave was wading in the North Branch of the Raritan when he landed the fish at
6 p.m. Six pound test was used with a spinning rod and a Mitchell reel. A rooster tail served as the lure. The fish was 26 inches in length with a 16 3/8 inch girth.

Lake Trout - 15 lb caught by 25-year-old Bill Wackermann of Stewartsville on
March 8. Bill was fishing Round Valley Reservoir by boat when he landed this one at 8 a.m. Twelve pound test was used with a bait casting rod and an Abu Garcia reel. A jig served as the lure. The fish measured 35 inches in length with a 19 1/2 inch girth. Bill also took honors in the lake trout category last year. His previous winner, a 9 pound, 8 ounce fish was also taken from Round Valley Reservoir.

Rainbow Trout - 9 lb, 6 ounces caught by 9-year-old Andrea Totten of Wharton on
April 13. Andrea was fishing from the shore at Picatinny Lake when she hooked the fish at 3:30 p.m. Six pound test was used with a Shakespeare rod, Zebco reel and Rapala lure. The fish measured 26 inches in length with a 16 3/4 inch girth.

Walleye - 9 lb, 8 ounces caught by 42-year-old Wayne Dege of Bridgewater on
February 22. Wayne was fishing from the banks of the Raritan River in Manville when he landed the fish at 1:30 p.m. Twelve pound test was used with an Abu Garcia rod and reel. A 4 inch power grub with a 3/8 ounce jig served as the lure. The fish measured 30 inches in length with a 17 inch girth. Wayne was also honored in 1994 for a 12 pound, 8 ounce brown trout.

Saltwater Species:

Black Sea Bass - 5 lb, 1 oz caught by 54-year-old Jim Gallo of North Bergen on
December 12. Jim was fishing from a boat off Barnegat Light when he landed this one at 12 noon. Twenty pound test line was used with a Fenwick rod and a Penn reel. Clams were used for bait. The fish measured 20 1/2 inches in length with a 16 1/2 inch girth.

Striped Bass - 60 lb caught by 39-year-old Charles Griner of Port Norris on
November 12. Charles was fishing the Bug Light in Delaware Bay from his boat when he hooked the fish at 9:30 a.m. Thirty pound test was used with a spinning rod and a Penn reel. Bunker served for bait. The fish measured 50 1/4 inches in length with a 32 3/4 inch girth.

*Bluefish - 27 lb, 1 oz caught by 35-year-old Roger Kastorsky of Buena on October 11. Roger was fishing from a boat at Five Fathom Bank when he caught the fish (time is unknown). Thirty pound test was used with a custom rod and a spinning reel. Mullet and squid served for bait. The fish was 44 inches in length with a 32 inch girth. Roger now holds the state record for bluefish which is 2 pounds, 13 ounces larger than the previous record taken off Atlantic City in 1985!

Cod - 32 lb, 8 oz caught by 42-year-old Stanley Klimek of Sayreville on August 28. Stanley was fishing from a friend's boat off Manasquan when he caught the fish (time not specified). Forty pound test was used with a custom rod and a conventional reel. Clams served for bait. The fish measured 42 inches in length with an 18 inch girth. Stanley is also the skillful angler winner for this year's weakfish category and has been honored for several different categories over the years.

Black Drum - 78 lb caught by 35-year-old Michael Kuda of Westville on July 20. Mike was fishing from a boat 3 miles off Brigantine when he landed this one at 11:30 a.m. Fourteen pound test line was used with a spinning rod and reel. Minnows and squid were used for bait. The fish measured 47 inches in length with a 37 inch girth.

Winter Flounder - 4 lb caught by 12-year-old Billy Kulka of Bayville on November 16. Billy was fishing a wreck off Manasquan when he caught the fish at 1 p.m. Thirty pound test was used with Hurricane rod and a Penn reel. Clams served for bait. The fish measured 19 1/2 inches in length.

Fluke - 11 lb, 4 oz caught by 66-year-old Paul O'Neil of Lawrenceville on August 2. Paul was fishing from his boat 2 1/2 miles off Barnegat when he landed the fish at 12 noon. Fourteen pound test was used with a custom rod and a Shimano reel. Bait is unknown. The fish was 29 1/2 inches in length.

Tautog - 16 lb, 2 oz caught by 34-year-old George Klawitter, Jr. of Millville on April 19. George was fishing the Cape May Reef from his father's boat when he reeled the fish in at 12:30 p.m. Thirty pound test was used with a custom rod and a Shimano reel. Crabs served for bait. The fish measured 29 inches in length. Girth was unavailable.

Tautog - 16 lb, 2 oz caught by 30-year-old Andrew Vazquez of Lenni, Pennsylvania on April 12. Andrew was fishing from a boat in Barnegat Inlet (6 miles off the beach) when he reeled the fish in at 1 p.m. Twenty pound test was used with an unspecified rod and a Shimano reel. Crabs served for bait. The fish measured 28 1/4 inches in length with a 22 1/2 inch girth.

Albacore Tuna - 72 lb, 12 oz caught by 37-year-old Captain Tom Walsh of Toms River on October 9. Captain Walsh was fishing the Wilmington Canyon when he hooked the fish at 9:30 p.m. Fifty pound test was used with a Penn Stand-Up rod and an unspecified reel. Butterfish served for bait. The fish measured 50 inches in length. Girth was unavailable.

Big Eye Tuna - 252 lb caught by 17-year-old Peter Ryon of Pottsville, Pennsylvania on September 1. Pete was fishing Tom's Canyon when he hooked the fish at 8:55 p.m. Fifty pound test was used with a custom rod, Penn reel and a green machine lure. Length and girth were unavailable.

Weakfish - 10 lb caught by 42-year-old Stanley Klimek of Sayreville on May 22. Stanley was fishing from a boat off Manasquan when he landed the fish at 7 p.m. Thirty pound test was used with a Penn rod and reel. The lure was a jig. The fish was 31 inches in length with a 16 inch girth.